VIDEO: Man rides whale shark in Gulf

A video of a man catching a ride on a whale shark’s dorsal fin off the coast of Venice may have raised some ire online, but the act isn’t illegal, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse.

Facebook user James Robert Bostwick uploaded the 32-second-long video to his social media account on June 6. Footage filmed from a nearby boat shows Bostwick swimming toward a whale shark, taking hold of its dorsal fin and being pulled along the water’s surface for a few seconds until the video ends.

Despite what their names may imply, whale sharks are gentle filter feeders. They’re also the world’s largest species of fish.

Bostwick’s video, which has been shared more than 200 times on Facebook, has prompted reactions ranging from amazement to disgust. While state and federal laws protect the whale shark, Morse said, there’s no rule against riding on the back of one, adding “generally we discourage interaction of that type with wildlife.”

Even the relatively tiny touch of a human hand can upset the impressively large animals, said Dr. Robert Hueter, director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota.

“It’s best to maintain at least a six-foot distance for your safety and that of the shark,” Hueter said. “Touching can disrupt the protective mucus on the skin and can disturb their feeding behavior.”

Instead of riding a whale shark, there are ways the public can contribute to scientists’ research if they spot the fish in Southwest Florida’s coastal waters.

Mote scientists collect reports of whale shark sightings to look for possible patterns to their movements in local waters, Hueter said. New sightings in the Gulf of Mexico should be reported immediately by emailing info@mote.org. GPS coordinates should be provided if possible.

“If you are photographing a whale shark, you can support whale shark research by taking an underwater photo of the left side of its body above the pectoral fin,” he added. “The spot pattern in this area can help scientists ID whale sharks.”

Last modified: June 12, 2014
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